Photographic enlarger



Feb. 11, 1947.

A. SIMMON arm. 2, ,568

PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGER Filed Oct. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/"Q'rZ -l 57 I Q l I l l l Alfred .fi/rgrmon Louis Lwels lass l INVENTO BY Wail/ M A TTORNEX Feb. 11, 1947.

A. SIMMON ETAL 2,415,568 PHOTQGRAPHIKC ENLARGER Filed Oct. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Alfred Sim/non Laws 1.. Wang/ass INVENTORS A GYNE K of the diffuse reflector.

Patented Feb. 11, 1947 PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGER Alfred Simmon, Jackson Heights, and Louis L.

Weisglass, New York, N. Y.,

assignors to Slmmon Brothers, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 19, 1945, Serial No. 623,292

4Claims.

l The object of this invention is an improved photographic enlarger of the general type that has been broadly disclosed in a co-pending application Serial No. 577,216, filed by Louis L. Weisglass, one of the co-inventors. The projector assembly of this enlarger comprises a conventional enlarging lens and a conventional condenser, but the source of light is a diflusely reflecting surface disposed substantially in the focal point of this condenser and illuminated by a spotlight. Compared to the conventional arrangement in said focal point of a, lamp with an opal vessel and emitting diifuscd light, this arrangement offers a much better utilisation of the available light and permits the application of much higher wattages than heretofore possible. For a detailed description of the general principle involved and foradiscussionofthegainsineiliciency andlight output, we wish to refer to the co-pending application No. 577,216.

In another co-pending application Serial No. 609,873, filed by Louis L. Weisglass, one of the coinventors, a simple method has been disclosed by means of which the li ht output or such an enlarger can be controlled by changing the podtion In another co-pending application Serial No. 614,208, also flied by Louis L. Weisglass; one of the co-inventors, methods have been disclosed by means of which thelight colorofsuchanenlargercanbechangedbyusing exchangeable colored reflectors. It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism which permits the operator to control the intensity as well as the color of the emitted light of an enlarger of this general type.

In Fig. 1 and 2, are shown, respectively, a front and a side view of an enlarger built according to our invention, both views being partly cross sectional.

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 show various cross sectional views through the head of the lamp housing showing in detail the mechanism for intensity and color control. More specifically, Fig. 3 shows a horizontal cross sectional view along the plane of line 3-3 in Fig. 4; Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view along the plane of line 4-4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the plane of 1ine.55 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view along the plane of line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

18. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modification of the gear arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the various views and the following specification.

The enlarger consists of three principal parts, the base, the upright column and the projector assembly.

The base i0 is preferably made from plywood or the like. On this base is fastened a bracket ii, preferably made from cast iron or aluminum which supports two U-channels l2. These channels are arranged either vertically or, preferably, under a slight angle as shown. Slidably mounted on this vertical or nearly vertical column is the projector assembly. This projector assembly consists of the supporting carriage, the focusing assembly with the enlarging lens, and the lamp 7 housing.

The carriage. consists of two steel plates II which are bolted together by four bolts I.

These bolts serve at the same time as shafts for rollers II by means of which the carriage slides with a small amount of friction on the aforementnmed channels i2.

The steel plates it have a configuration clearly shown inl 'ig. 2. Each steel plate has lug ll adapted to support the lamp housing. A projection I1 is provided which supports 'a film stage It which, of course, has an aperture of the desired size. The negative, preferably supported by one of the well known types of holders is, during 1 operation, placed on this apertured filmstage it. A film holder suitable for this purpose is, for instance, shown in Patents No. 2,222,185 and just the position of guide rods 20 and therewith of lens support is and lens II by simply turning hand wheel 23.

The enlarger as described up to this point is quite conventional, and does not depart appreciably from other well known designs.

The lamp housing consists of the main housing 30, preferably an aluminum casting or the like, the condenser with the condenser housing 3! and the condenser lenses 32, the two spotlights 33 and the colored reflector assembly which will be described in detail below. The spotlight may be of any conventional design, but we prefer the type disclosed in detail in co-pending application Serial No. 609,873. This type comprises a. lamp and a specular reflector. The reflector is formed partly by a, paraboloid and partly by an ellipsoid body of rotation. Means are provided by which the lamp can be adjusted within this reflector. These means and other features of this particular spotlight construction have not been shown indetail because they have been fully disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 609,873.

The head of the lamp housing contains the adjustable reflector assembly.- This head, see

Fig. 3, comprises a housing 40 containing a. pivoted' trunnion consisting of the two arms 4| and 42 which are fixedly" attached to the shaft 43 which can rotate in bearings which are part of housing 45. A worm gear 44 is attached to arm 42. Referringnow to Fig. 6, this wormgear 44 can be turned by a worm 45 which, in turn, is

connected to a handwheel 45 mounted in front of the enlarger and which may be actuated by the operator. Obviously, by turning handwheel 45 the operator will rotate worm 45 and thereby worm gear 44. This rotation will, in turn, raise or lowerarm' 42 and therewith the entire trunsquare or hexagonal or any other convenient shape may be selected, if so desired. It will also be understood that each side of this polygonal cylinder carries a reflector which reflects predominantly difiuse light of a selected color. For example, each side of the triangular body, as shown, may support a white, yellow and blue reflector respectively, the whitereflector being used for ordinary bromide paper and the yellow and projected by the condensers in the usual manner into the pupil of the enlarging lens.

As mentioned before, the operator by revolving hand wheel 45 can lower or raise the reflector carrier 5| in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The more the operator raises it, themore said body becomes-defocused with respect to'both the condenser and the'two spotlights and, therefore,-

' the optical efliciency of the system becomes less and less. By raising the reflector carrier approximately 2" the light still reaching the enlarging lens, as well as the bromide paper, can

be reduced to approximately 4% of its maximum value. t

We have shown' in Fig. 6 that the triangular reflector carrier is raised parallel toitself, i. e., its lower side which is horizontal remains horizontal at all times. Ordinarily, the reflector carrler would not move in this manner, but would rather maintain its position relative to the two trunnion arms 4| and 42. That means it would not only change its vertical positionbut would also perform a slight rotary motion. the angle of rotation with respect to the horizontal being as large as the angle ofrotation performed by'the trunnion arms 4| and 42. This rotation. is preblue reflector for part exposures for so-called Varigam paper. Varigam is a trade name for a variable contrast bromide paper which upon exposure with blue light gives very contrasty prints, but which upon exposures to yellow light is extremely soft, intermediate degrees of contrast being obtainable. by double exposure with blue and yellow light in various percentages, re-

spectively.

Referring now to Fig. 5, flxedly attached to the triangular body 5| is a gear 52 which meshes with an idler gear 53 rotatably' supported on shaft 54. Shaft 54, in turn, is attached to arm Idler gear 53, in turn, is in mesh with a gear 55 which is rotatably mounted on the aforementioned shaft 43. Attached to gear 55 is a worm gear 55 which, in turn, is actuated by a worm, not shown, and hand wheel 51, Fig. 1, substantially identical with the ones shown in Fig. 6.

The working function of the device can be understood from this description. The operator manipulates two hand wheels 45 and 51, see Fig. l. Handwheel 45 through its associated worm 45 turns worm gear 44 and therewith the two arms 42 and 4|, see Fig. 4. This, in turn, raises or lowers the triangular reflectorv carrier 5|, see Fig. 6. .This mechanism is so dimensioned that in the lowest position, shown in Fig. 2, the side of the reflector carrier which faces the condenser is substantially in the focal point of said condenser. In this manner the highest possible light output is obtained, i. e., the two spotlights 33 project a concentrated spot of light on the reflectormounted on the lower surface of the triangular reflector carriage; This concentrated spot of light, in tum,becomes the light source proper for the optical system of the enlarger, and an image of this concentrated'spot of light is vented by the gear arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 5. Wehave marked in this drawing with a black dot three teeth 52', and 55' of the three gears 52, 53, and 55 respectively. Gear ./55, as long as hand wheel 51 is not being turned. i kept automatically in its present position, i. e., raising or lowering the trunnion arms 4| and 42 will not/affect its position. Raising the trunnion arms 4| and 42, however, will'aifect the position of gears 52'and 53 and they may, for example, assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Sin'ce gear 55 is kept stationary, gear.

53 will perform a small counter-clockwise rotation and tooth 55' will now assume the position 53". This counter-clockwise rotation of gear 53, of course, causes. a corresponding clockwise rotation of gear 52 and, if gears 52 and 55 have the same number of teeth, this clockwise rotation will exactly offset the counter-clockwise rotation induced by the counter-clockwise rotation of the two [trunnion arms 4| and 42. In other words, tooth 52' assumes position 52" which shows that gear 52 has not rotated at all with respect to the horizontal during the raising movement of trunnion arms 4| and 42. In otherwords, if a line connecting tooth 52' tdnthe center of shaft 55 was vertical beforethe rotary movement of the trunnion, it will remain vertical at all times. Since gear 52 is flxedly attached to the triangular reflector carrier 5| it follows that this reflector carrier, by the'rotary movement of the trunnion, will also be raised or lowered parallel to itself and, if its lower surface was horizontal at the' beginning of this movement, it

will remain horizontalatalltimes.

In the foregoing paragraphs we have'explained what happens when we keep worm gear 55 and the associated spur gear 55 stationary and give the trunnion a rotary motion by rotating handwheel 45 and worm gear 44. We shall now explain what happens-in the opposite case, i. e., when we keep hand wheel 45 and therewith worm gear 44 and trunnion arms 42 and 4| stationary but rotate hand wheel '51 and therewith worm gear 55. What takes place in this case is quite simple. The rotary motion of worm gear 55 is transferred through spur gears 55 and '53 to spur gear 52. This spur gear isflxedly attached the triangular reflector carrier 5| which therefore also rotates. The shaft II is, of course, stationary since the trunnion arms II and 42 are stationary, being kept in this position by the now stationary worm gear ll. Consequently, rotating hand wheel simply rotates the reflector carrier 5i and the operator now may rotate it for example by one-third of a revolution and thereby bring another reflector of a diflerent color into the effective position in which it is being color and the light intensity independently.

Fig. 7 shows an alternate construction consisting of two sprockets 60 and ti connected by a chain 82 which elements takes the place or the three spur gears 52, 53, and 56 shown in Fig. 5.

It will be clear that this construction assures the parallel movement of the reflector carrier Si in precisely the same manner as the three spur gears shown in Fig. 5.

It will be obvious that the construction as disclosed may be subjected to numerous changes and modiflcations without departing from the spirit of this invention. For example, hand wheels 46 and I! may be either singly or both replaced by small electric motors which may be remotely controlled by any convenient method.

Many other changes of form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacriflcing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim as new is:

l. A photographic enlarger comprising a supporting structure and a projector assembly, said projector assembly including a support for a photographic negative, an enlarging lens in front of said negative, means to adjust the distance from said lens to said negative for focusing purposes, a, condenser behind said negative, a polygonal cylinder behind said condenser, a plurality of reflectors reflecting predominantly diffuse light of diflerent colors, respectively, mounted on the sides of said cylinder, one of these sides facing said condenser, at least one spotlight illuminating said last mentioned side, and means under the control of the operator to rotate said polygonal cylinder whereby one of said reflectors of a selected color is placed into the illuminated position, and independent means to change the position of said polygonal cylinder with respect to said condenser, whereby said illuminated reflector in one extreme position is substantially in the focal point of said condenser, thus delivering maximum light output, and in the other extreme position is farther away from said condenser, thus delivering a smaller light output, intermediate degrees of light output being obtainable by placing said polygonal cylinder into positions between said two extreme positions.

2. A photographic enlarger comprising a supporting structure and a projector assembly, said projector assembly including a support for a photographic negative, an enlarging lens in front of said negative, means to a lust' the distance from r 6 said lens to said negative for focusing purposes,

a condenser behind said negative, a poly onal,

cylinder behind said condenser, a plurality of reflectors reflecting predominantly diffuse light of different colors, respectively, mounted on the I -carrying said polygonal cylinder, and means under the control of the operator to rotate said polygonal cylinder whereby one of said reflectors of a selected color is placed into the illuminated position, and independent means to change the position of said po gonal cylinder with respect to said condenser by swiveling said trunnion, whereby said illuminated reflector in one extreme position is substantially in the focal point of said condenser, thus delivering maximum light output, and in the other extreme position is farther away from said condenser, thus delivering a smaller light output, intermediate degrees of light output being obtainable by placing said p y onal cylinder into position between said two extreme positions.

3. A photographic enlarger comprising a supporting structure and a projector assembly, said projector assembly including a support for a photographic negative, an enlarging lens in front of said negative, means to adjust the distance from said lens to said negative for focusing purposes, a condenser behind said negative, a housing, a polygonal cylinder within the housing and behind said condenser, a plurality of reflectors reflecting predominantly difluse light of different colors, respectively, mounted on the sides of said polygonal cylinder, one of these sides facing said condenser, at least one spotlight illuminating said last mentioned side, a trunnion pivoted within said housing and carryin said poly onal cylinder, and means under the control of the operator to rotate said polygonal cylinder whereby one of said reflectors of a selected color is placed into the illuminated position, said means to rotate comprising a first gear supported by said housing and its axis coinciding with the pivot of said trunnion, a second gear connected to said polygonal cylinder, both gears having the same number of teeth, a third gear supported by said trunnion and in mesh with said first and second gear, and means to rotate said first gear and thereby the other gears and said po y onal cylinder, and independent means to change the position of said polygonal cylinder with respect to said condenser by swiveling said trunnion, whereby said illuminated reflector in one extreme position is substantially in the focal point of said condenser,

thus delivering maximum light output, and in.

the other extreme pomtion is farther away from said condenser, thus delivering a smaller light output, intermediate degrees of light output being obtainable by placing said poly onal cylinder into positions between said two extreme positions.

4. A photographic enlarger comprising a supporting structure and a projector assembly, said projector assembly including a support for a photographic negative, an enlarging lens in front of said negative, means to adjust the distance from said lens to said negative for focusing purposes, a condenser behind said negative, a housing, a polygonal cylinder within the housing and behind said condenser, a plurality of reflectors reflecting predominantly diil'use light of difl'erent colors, respectively, mounted on the sides of said Po y onal cylinder, one of these sides facing said condenser, at least one spotlight illuminating said last mentioned side, a trunnion pivoted within a mum light output, and in the other extremeposaid housing-and carrying said polygonal cylinsition is farther away from said condenser, thus d'er, and means under the controloi the operator 7 delivering a smaller light output, intermediate l to rotate said polygonal cylinder whereby one of degrees of light output'being obtainable by placsaid reflectors; of a selected color is placed into 5 ing' said polygonal cylinder into positions between the illuminated position, said means to rotate said two extreme positions.

comprising a first sprocket" supported by said SIMMON. housing and its axis coinciding with the pivot of LOUIS L. WEISGLASS. said trunnion, a second sprocket connected to v said polygonal cylinder, both sprockets having 10 REFERENCES CITED 1 the Samet number of teeth 0118-111 connecting The following references are of record 'in the \both sprockets?1 an: 1nlileanis to rotatke tsaid firist fil of s patent;

sprocket and ere y e 0 her sproc e and sa d I polygonal cylinder, and independent means to UNITED STATES PATENTS change the position of said polygonal cylinder 15 Number- Name Date with respect to said condenser by swiveling said 2,345,988 I Noel Apt 18, 1944 trunnion, whereby said illuminated reflector in 1,307,047 Risdon May 26, 1931 one extreme position is substantially in the focal 2,349,2 0 Garraway May 2 1944 point of said condenser, thus delivering rhaxi- 

